Take Up Your Cross December 11th 2014

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. (Romans 15:1-3 KJV)

The context of this ancient scripture verse was meant for the struggling Roman church. It has relevance and application for today’s church as well. In every church there are those who exist on the pure milk of God’s Word. This is akin to a baby getting his nutrition from being bottle fed by a mature person who is charged with the infant’s care. More mature Christians who feast upon a full course or the meat of God’s Word digest deeper nuggets of scripture all the while spoon feeding baby Christians new to the faith and beginning their personal walk with God.

A church cannot exist and function properly without having both immature and mature believers sitting together in unity its pews. Each stage of a believer’s life has a place in the spiritual success of the church, personal spiritual godly success, along with collectively professing Christians in God’s spiritual family as a whole. When a Christian believer is reproached it is a reproach upon believers collectively. Likewise when a believer is edified it is edifying to others.

Living this Christian life as we sojourn upon this earth is not living to please ourselves but rather being spiritually pleasing to God first, others second, placing ourselves last. This formula for spiritual success is held together through a personal relationship with God providing unconditional love or the glue of godliness with humility among brothers and sisters in Christ.

Jesus Christ serves as our greatest example of sacrifice according to God’s will. Jesus brought about the possibility of perfect spiritual health for eternity for any who will accept God’s free gift being made alive in Christ now through the sacrifice of His only Son who shed His precious blood on the cross.

Jesus Christ bore the weight of the sin debt of the world pleasing His Father in Heaven. He desires that you and I also live according to His will for our life today; using His unconditional love as the glue in our relationships with others as we sojourn upon this earth.